Since I've got 13 hours on you...

suckaz, I'll post it first (in our little alcove of blogdom): "We caught Saddam Hussein."

That's the good news, I guess.

The bad news is that he's now a late entry in the Beard-A-Thon, and he looks to win.

I need to get to bed...

I'm trying to get back on the routine-horse.  I'm crafting waht's called a "rule of life", primarily to help me listen better to God's call in my life, and only secondarily to help me be more productive. 

It looks like I'll be picking up a few more responsibilites in the coming weeks.  I may start taking 4 hours of Mandarin lessons per week.  I may pick up another evening class.  I will have to get my Shelter messages done more promptly, so the team knows the message in advance and can pray for that, and so we can put key ideas on Power Point.

A bedtime fairy tale...

There once was a man with two strong arms, and two strong legs, and a powerful voice.  He was chosen one day to build a fine little house for the King of the Land.  The man labored with other strong workers for many months on this fine house.  Lo and behold, after many cold nights and long days, there stood a splendid little house, shining with the King's gold and built according to his royal wisdom. 

All the workers, and all the planners, and all the citizens were so happy about the fine little house and thanked the man for building such a fine little house for the Great King of the Land.  They urged the man into the house, to enjoy its regal splendor and to always think of the King there. 

But the man with two strong arms and two strong legs and a strong voice refused to enter the house.  For, on a hill, in the distance, in a much older, more mysterious and infinitely more beautiful palace, was the King's true throne.  The man knew all along that the fine house he was building was merely the guard station into the King's true kingdom, a land full of giants and ogres and angels.  Any wealth brought into that fine little house was meant for the palace on the hill, in the distance, where the King reigned in love. 

And so the man with two strong legs, two strong arms, and a powerful voice, set off on a long and dangerous journey to reach the palace and enjoy his King there always. 

O, but this was all so long ago!  Who now can recall who followed the man and who assailed him, or whom he gained and whom he lost -- or whether the man ever reached the ancient palace of love?